Russian TV: And Now For The Weather In Syria

On Russia's state-owned news channel, Rossiya 24, the impeccably coiffured presenter, Yekaterina Grigorova, had some good news for viewers.

"October is a very favourable month for air force operations," she said in reference to Russia’s military campaign in Syria, before adding that "rain does not have a serious effect on bombing missions."

As for Syrian wind speeds, precipitation levels and that bugbear of all aviators, cloud cover ... well, there was not much for viewers to worry about.

"Low-level visibility is not expected in the coming days," she added

The qualified meteorologist ran through a series of grainy, black and white air force videos depicting the destruction of various objects of the ground.

"Russian bombers and fighter jets destroyed a large munition dump and a commandment base where the militants were coordinating their actions… (which) highlights again that the time for air force operations was chosen very successfully."

Ms Grigorova's souped-up weather forecast is part of an overwhelming barrage of positive war-coverage from Russia's state-controlled media.

Much of it is directed at the domestic audience who may be questioning – at least quietly to themselves – the wisdom of a military adventure in the Middle East.

Yet Russia's media output has an international dimension as well, taking on Western journalists - and their employers - who have accused Moscow of striking not only at Islamic State but also at other armed groups seeking the removal of Bashar al Assad's regime - killing civilians in the process.

The Russian President Vladimir Putin was quick to dismiss such "information attacks".

He told the Tass news agency: "The first reports of civilian casualties appeared before our planes took off."

The state-controlled media soon piled in.

English language website Sputnik International proclaimed: "Russia Laughs Off 'Pseudo-Sensations' About 'Bombed' Civilians in Syria."

As for 'Russian-style' weather forecasting, it has been done before.

Rossiya 1 aired something rather similar in February of last year as pro-Russia separatists and Ukraine troops squared up to each other around the city of Debaltsevo in eastern Ukraine.

"So, the weather is not on the side of the Ukrainian Army?" asked Rossiya 1's presenter.

The meteorologist replied: "It's going to be hard for everyone but the Ukrainian Army is surrounded by foreign soil and the atmosphere will cause more problems for them.

"Of course there is heavy fighting in Debaltsevo right now, so they are unlikely to get cold, but if the siege drags on, the weather will demoralise Ukrainian soldiers more."

It may take more than sunshine in Syria to keep the Russian public happy however, as the oil price stutters and inflation pushes 15%.

Independent analysts have done their own forecasting, predicting storm clouds ahead for the Russian economy.